Obituary for Esther Bailey

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Arkadelphia Siftings Herald - Arkadelphia, AR

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Posted Jan. 16, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Posted Jan. 16, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Esther Laverne Williams Bailey, 70, of Arkadelphia, passed Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, at Baptist Health Medical Center, Arkadelphia. She was born Oct. 31, 1943, in Arkadelphia, the daughter of Sammie Leon and Mary Taylor Williams. She was a member of Baring Cross Church Of God In Christ and a graduate of Peake High School. She was a past employee of the Arkadelphia Human Development Center and Henderson State University. She was preceded in her passing by her parents; three sisters, Lorene Williams, Fannie Pearl Williams and Gennetta Williams; two brothers, George Williams and Carl Williams; and a grandson, Brandon Michael Bailey. She leaves to forever remember her legacy her husband of 51 years, Jay Best Bailey Jr.; eight children, Shenetta Randle of Louisville, Ky., Michael Bailey, Ronald Bailey and Erica Bailey, all of Arkadelphia, Stephen Bailey of Alexander, Bruce Bailey of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Angela Bailey of Mansfield, Texas, and Rhonda Brown of Fort Worth, Texas; 27 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Banks of Chicago and Debra Thomas of Oakland, Calif.; four brothers, Sammie L. Williams Jr. of Flint, Mich., Roy A. Williams of Oakland, Calif., James T. Williams of New Orleans, and Jerry J. Williams of Arkadelphia. Public visitation will be Friday, Jan. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. at the funeral home, and the family will receive friends from 6–7 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. A home-going celebration will be shared Saturday at 1 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd Jr. is pastor. Supt. Leroy Williams will deliver the eulogy and Supt. Robert Davis will officiate. The interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Services provided by Williams Funeral Home. To sign the guestbook in memory of Mrs. Bailey, visit www.funeralsatwilliams.com.